Choices

Jose Fernando Garcia knew about choices. When his uncle and guardian, the late Don Isabelo Penaranda, passed on, the then 19-year old orphan inherited quite a substantial amount of money. This was in addition to what people said was an unimaginable fortune in land and other assets. Now instead of squandering what so fortuitously fell on his lap, Fernan played the part of a wise sage far beyond his years and put all his efforts into further increasing his wealth. He shunned flaunted affluence, and this was reflected in his choice of a home. He passed on taking up residence in what he thought were the fake and soulless regions of the west coast and settled in a quiet corner of prime Wilmington real estate, where North Carolina met the Atlantic.